Overview
- The annual charge, which rose on Wednesday, is £180 for a colour licence and £60.50 for black-and-white after a 3.15% inflation uplift.
- A licence is required to watch or record any live TV or to use BBC iPlayer on any device, while on-demand services like Netflix, Disney+, ITVX and YouTube do not require one unless you watch live channels.
- Enforcement remains intense, with TV Licensing sending 46 million warning letters in 2024–25 and spending £165.6 million on collection, and non-payment can lead to prosecution and fines up to £1,000.
- News outlets report the BBC is exploring closer links between iPlayer accounts and home addresses to help spot households using the service without a licence.
- Support remains in place, with free licences for over-75s on Pension Credit, a 50% discount for blind people, care‑home concessions, and options to spread payments or claim a refund if a licence is no longer needed.